Globetrotters wins game and heart of Chennaiites

Chennai, Nov 18 (UNI) 'Harlem Globetrotters' that came to the city with the mission of promoting 'Indian Basketball' did not disappoint the Chennaiites gathered at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here this evening, while defeating the Nationals by 75-51.

The crowd, which was excited through out the game, stood up in dismay while Globetrotters entered the court, led by Herbert Lang.

The opponents, Nationals too joined the entertainers in providing more cheer to the fans.

Robert Turner who scored the first basket for Globetrotters did not lose his form till the end of the game and bagged the place of top scorer.

The inviters displayed their excellent skills in spinning the ball on fingers, rolling it from shoulder to shoulder and passing it under their knees and even shooting it using head and back. The zig-zag passes led by Herbert Lang was the most exciting item.

Raymond Bangs, the announcer, called out ''foul, foul'' for a call by the referee against Donald Johnson, top scorer of Nationals. For that Kevin Daley claimed ''foul+foul, is 2+2 and that is equal to 4, all over the world, and in India too'', which received a mass applaud.

By pressing the time-out burser in between the second quarter Kevin Dalley, the cheer leader of Globetrotters in the first half miffed referee Barry Kent Terry.

Globetrotters added many foreign characters and things to the middle of the court other than the players during the game. Funny looking mask, a T-shirt for a young Chennai boy, hand bag of Mili, a Chennai girl, who was lucky enough to dance with cheer leader Daley.

The break time between second and third quarters invited Police Commissioner Letika Saran to the middle of the court and the Globetrotters team presented her a basket ball autographed by the platers of the 80-year-old team.

In between the game the inviters did not forget to display their skill in India's most popular game cricket. While Kris Burton took the role of Dhony (wicket keeper), Herbert Lang bowled to Daley and the crowd helped in throwing the balls back to the ground which went over the ropes many a times.

Apart from showing tricks, the six foot plus men showed their excitement in giving autographs to all the Indian's gathered.

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